Forty hours of our week or more are committed to our lives, nearly every week of every year. The only exception is when we finally find the time to take a vacation.
Whether that vacation is long or short, however, it seems impossible nowadays to completely disconnect from all of the technology we surround ourselves with on a day-to-day basis. Smart phones, tablets, laptops and wearable tech have become such an integral part of our lives that even when we want to be “away from it all” many of us are still carrying along the work.
By following these 4 steps to relax and disconnect, however, you can help yourself and your family enjoy a more peaceful and relaxing vacation. Make this a challenge or game for the whole family — see who can entirely forget all about work while you’re away.
1. Don’t Pack the Technology
Leave your laptop and tablets at home, and get back to the time before we had all of today’s gadgets. By not packing these items, you’ll be forced to stay off the grid and relax away from the daily distractions. Less screen time will ensure that you can enjoy time spent with friends and family, and embrace the experiences during your vacation. Even if this happens to be a “staycation” week away from work, try to limit the time you spend with technology — instead of checking out your Facebook page or binging on your smart TV, take this time to look at your old home photo albums, pull out one of your favorite books or board games, and get creative with activities around the house.
2. Turn off Your Phone’s WiFi and E-mail
It’s very rare that you can leave your phone behind, of course — for safety and contact purposes, bringing your phone with you has its advantages. Turning off the phone’s email capabilities, though, will help ensure that you don’t get sucked into working when you shouldn’t be. An easy way to disconnect your phone is turning it on plane mode or turning off the WiFi to limit the Internet services and phone calls you can receive. Take this time to communicate with the actual people right in front of you and enjoy the activities that you’re taking part in.
3. Plan Ahead
You can be better prepared to disconnect from your work responsibilities by making arrangements to have a co-worker, direct report or manager cover for your position while you’re away (let them know you’re to be messaged only in case of an emergency). And don’t neglect to create an auto-reply vacation message for your work e-mail, letting everyone know you’re away, who to contact in your absence, and when you’ll be returning.
4. Try Something Completely Different
By engaging in an activity you’ve never tried before, you’re helping your brain to “rewire” and fully disconnect from both your job and your technology habits. By taking up a new hobby, sport or activity, you’re stimulating the brain’s learning center and creating new memories — and, importantly, distracting yourself from impending deadlines or tweets. You might even discover an activity that you truly love and will enjoy well beyond this vacation.
After a week’s respite from your technology, you’re sure to return to work feeling more energized and ready to be even more productive. And, who knows, perhaps you’ll find that you can do without some technology you previously believed was critical to your everyday.
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Photo credit: Vincent van Gogh’s The Sower, 1888.